The Santa Clauses Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Chapter Three: Into the Wobbly Wood
Watching The Santa Clauses Season 1 Episode 3, “Chapter Three: Into the Wobbly Wood,” it feels like the show is moving too fast. We already have a new Santa and the Calvin-Claus family has a new home in Chicago.
However, as the episode comes to an end, we understand the speed of the episode is completely intentional. Even though everything seems to be going well in the North Pole, a flick of lights and a shaky magic snow globe prove there is more than meets the eye.
To get to that point, the show takes us through a roller coaster of emotions as the Calvin-Claus family gets ready for the biggest change of their lives.
The best thing The Santa Clauses has managed to do from the beginning is to be funny in a subtle way. The jokes land perfectly whether you are a young, new fan or you have been around since the premiere of the movies.
Jokes like Santa’s sweater reading “Sit on my lap and tell me what you want” and all of Betty’s comments are discreet. And we mostly get to enjoy them when Mrs. Clause congratulates Betty on a good joke — something the elf is oblivious to.
The jokes aren’t the only little nods that we get to enjoy. Considering it is a Christmas-themed TV show, it makes perfect sense that they mention Mariah Carey. Even though Santa doesn’t want a huge party, the cute rendition of her song by the elves gives it the warm feeling every holiday show needs.
It is that sweet moment between the elves and the Claus-Calvin family that allows Mrs. Claus to find closure and move on to her next adventure. As someone who chose to follow the man she loved into the North Pole, it is nice to see her getting another happy ending, a new beginning, in Chicago.
And of course she had to let her hair down for this.
In order for the Calvin-Claus family to move on, Santa needs to find a replacement. This didn’t seem to be an easy task on The Santa Clauses Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2. However, “Chapter Three: Into the Wobbly Wood,” seems to be the perfect candidate.
Seems is the key word, because things take a weird turn towards the end of the episode while Simon is settling in as the new Santa.
Scott himself interviews different candidates. We get to see a famous football player and a toymaker one-on-one with the former Santa. These scenes allow viewers to understand better how being Santa works.
It isn’t all fun and games, delivering toys on Christmas. There are Santa traps and different challenges that the perfect candidate will know how to face or avoid.
Even though his first impression isn’t the best, Simon ends up being the best choice in Scott’s eyes.
Parenting is once more a very important element on this episode of The Santa Clauses. Even though Scott is ready to write Simon off, his story as a father is what moves him to make his choice.
Here we have two fathers who have struggled in their own way to be the best version of themselves for their children. That is what brings them together, and it is perfectly shown on the episode as they find themselves stuck in the Wobbly Wood.
But the Wobbly Wood gives room for different things to happen. We get to meet the Christmas Witch — La Befana, as she prefers — and understand where the idea of coal or candy in your stocking comes from.
And it is she who allows Scott and Sandra to connect, giving us one of the most emotional moments of the episode.
After watching him struggle as a parent, it is nice to see Scott connect with his daughter and share with her that he is also afraid of what is coming. This confession is what gives Sandra the courage to accept the move to “the real world.”
As happy as we are to see Carol and Cal enjoying their new life, we can’t help but be worried about what is to come. What does the flicker of the lights mean?
What does the magic snowball know that we don’t? It will be interesting to see how Simon begins to learn about his new job — especially since he doesn’t know he needs a Mrs. Claus.
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What did you think of this episode of The Santa Clauses? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Santa Clauses airs Wednesdays on ABC.
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Lara Rosales
Lara Rosales is a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature. She works in PR, hosts a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things), and writes on the internet about TV and movies. Some of her articles can be found on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, and Flip Screened.